The Big Hurt is retiring from baseball.
The longtime White Sox star and likely future Hall of Famer Frank Thomas will make the announcement at U.S. Cellular Field Friday morning.
"Life goes on. I have a 15 month old baby and I’ve spent a lot of time with my kids during this last year and a half," Thomas told MLB.com
. "I caught up with the time that I missed away from them. I’m really happy. I’m taking care of myself and I feel good."
It appears the Sox are going to do the right thing and sign him to a one day contract so he can retire as a member of the White Sox.
The team picked Thomas in the first round of the 1989 draft. In the 1990’s he won back-to-back League MVP awards and won a world series with the team in 2005.
Thomas leaves baseball with 521 career homeruns, ranking 18th on the all time list. He racked up 1,701 RBIs, and a 301 career batting average.
The 41 year old slugger says it’s time to move on, “It’s just one of those things that you can’t play forever. I’ve had time to focus on what my future would be over the last year and a half and I have some interesting things going on. I’m doing well.”
He played as a White Sox from 1990 to 2005, finishing his career with the Toronto Blue Jays and the Oakland A’s. He will be eligible for the hall of fame in 2014.
